RAIL GETS PRIORITY IN LONG BEACH

The USWC port of Long Beach has put rail improvements at the top of its agenda under its 10-year/US$2.278 billion capital expenditure programme. This follows on from recognition of rail service disruptions that were manifest in 2021 between the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to the mid-west.

US$1.457 billion has been allocated for rail upgrades which include: a fourth track at Ocean Boulevard to reduce bottlenecks, double tracking from piers G to J and the Pier B rail improvement project.

The latter scheme will introduce: new arrival and departure tracks, a 93,000ft support yard, a station for up to 8 Matarbari port: land acquisition problems resolved but surfacing with the Bay Terminal project30 locomotives and support for 17 trains per day totalling 4.7 million TEU per year. Longer trains will be able to be assembled with greater frequency which streamline rail operations and minimise the increase in truck trips as container volume grows.

All the works are expected to be completed by 2032.